Announcing a new program

The College of Communication at The University of Texas seeks support for a new venture: The Texas Program in Sports and Media. The purpose of the Program is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and research on sports, media and culture, an emphasis that will build upon the College’s recently announced gift from the Cain Foundation in the area of entertainment studies. The Program will take advantage of the College’s strengths in film and television, popular culture, new media formats, and journalism and society. While athletics involves more than entertainment, its entertaining aspects are unquestionably important--culturally, financially, and ethically. When combined with The University’s long-standing interest in sports-related activities, the Program will elevate contemporary discussions of sports and American culture as well as the role of competitive athletics on the international scene. Our plan is to fund the Program largely with campus resources in its start-up phase and to use philanthropic monies thereafter.

Program Support

Although our fund-raising is just beginning, one loyal U.T. donor has already made a multi-year commitment to the Program and expressed a willingness to make personal solicitations on its behalf as well. Another U.T. alum has committed to matching—in Year Four of the Project—all funds raised during the Project’s first three years up to a maximum of $1 million. For its part, the College of Communication will help support an annual symposium on sports and public policy. Furthermore, senior staffers in The University Development Office have agreed to help with fund-raising, as has the Development staff in the College of Communication. In addition, U.T.’s Director of Libraries has committed personnel and programming needed to build a major web-based archive focused on the modern Olympic movement, a database that will bring instant credibility to the Program. Finally, members of Central Administration at U.T. are excited about the Program, with the Provost having committed significant funds to help support its first three years of operation.